Criminal Justice (Policing)

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime

This bill creates a Central Abuse Registry in West Virginia to track individuals convicted of crimes involving child abuse, neglect of incapacitated adults, abuse of adults receiving behavioral health services, and property misappropriation by those providing care services. It also adds specific sex offenses to the registration requirements and clarifies that people convicted of certain past offenses must remain on the registry. The legislation establishes a single annual fee of $125 for individuals required to register under both the abuse registry and sex offender registry, simplifying compliance by requiring only one payment. Funds collected from these fees will be used first to support mental health services for current and former state police employees before being applied to general state police operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by creating a registry for dangerous offenders, protecting vulnerable populations and enhancing accountability in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5253: Creating a domestic violence registry

HB 5253 creates a confidential domestic violence registry maintained by the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau. The registry lists individuals convicted of three or more domestic violence offenses (as defined in state law), allowing authorized entities like childcare facilities, residential care homes, and home care providers to conduct confidential background checks before hiring staff or volunteers who interact with children, incapacitated adults, or adults receiving behavioral health services. Prosecuting attorneys must submit relevant conviction data to the registry, and the bill specifies that only "requesters" (such as employers or care providers) can access the information for employment screening purposes. The law aims to protect vulnerable individuals by enabling confidential verification of a person's domestic violence history prior to placement in caregiving roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates registry for repeat domestic violence offenders to prevent access to vulnerable populations, enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism through targeted background checks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5517: Relating to the Office of Insurance Commissioner maintaining and posting lists of bondsmen

HB 5517 requires West Virginia's Office of Insurance Commissioner to create and maintain centralized, geographically specific lists of licensed bail bondsmen for each county and detention facility. The bill mandates that these lists - showing only bondsmen operating within 50 miles of the facility - be posted prominently in jails and police stations, with detainees given immediate access to select a bondsman from the list. It also establishes a statewide master list containing all licensed bondsmen's details, which facilities must provide upon request. The legislation grants the Insurance Commissioner exclusive authority to manage these lists, replacing local efforts, and ensures detainees can contact any licensed bondsman statewide.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates accessible bail bondsman lists, enhancing defendant rights and court transparency in pretrial processes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5436: Make it a felony to kill a canine officer

HB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClassifies harming police canines as felony, strengthening law enforcement protection during duty per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Sentencing

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passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 5341: To create a domestic violence registry

HB 5341 creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders in West Virginia, maintained by the State Police and accessible online. Individuals convicted of domestic violence against an intimate partner (with at least one prior conviction) or of sexual assault, abuse, or causing serious bodily injury must register and pay a $150 fee, with $50 funding family court services and $100 supporting domestic violence legal aid. The registry includes basic identifying details like name, date of birth, and conviction dates but excludes sensitive information such as addresses or Social Security numbers. Removal from the registry occurs after 5 years for one prior conviction, 10 years for two prior convictions or severe offenses, or for life with three or more prior convictions, applying to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates domestic violence offender registry and funds legal aid/domestic violence services, advancing victim protection and court support within criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5596: Revising the statute to add costs for misdemeanor and felony convictions to be deposited into the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund

HB 5596 amends West Virginia law to redirect certain court costs from criminal convictions into the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund. Specifically, it adds $20 for misdemeanor convictions and $20 for felony convictions to be deposited into the fund, plus an additional $50 for any conviction where the forensic lab's resources were used. These costs, which would otherwise go to other funds like courthouse improvements, are now directed to support the forensic lab's operations. The bill affects individuals convicted of misdemeanors or felonies in West Virginia court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects court costs to fund forensic lab operations, strengthening forensic capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 25, 2026

HB 5067: Relating to the powers and duties of the director of the Division of Administrative Services

HB 5067 clarifies the Division of Administrative Services' role in managing federal grants for law enforcement. It allows the Director to directly partner with law enforcement agencies (like the State Police) to apply for and administer federal grants restricted to such agencies. The bill also removes a previous requirement for the Deputy Secretary to hear certain appeals, instead directing the Office of Administrative Hearings to handle appeals from the Governor’s Committee on Crime subcommittees. This affects how state agencies coordinate federal grant funding and process appeals related to law enforcement certification decisions. The changes streamline grant administration but do not create new law enforcement powers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill streamlines federal grant access for law enforcement agencies, enabling funding for criminal justice programs through direct administrative partnerships.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 5479: Relating to prohibiting concealment of a law-enforcement officer’s identity or authority.

HB 5479 prohibits law enforcement officers from concealing their identity (e.g., by wearing masks or face coverings) during routine, warrantless stops where a person is not under arrest and there is no probable cause for a crime. This applies to non-custodial investigative stops, such as when officers briefly question individuals in public without evidence of wrongdoing. Exceptions include undercover operations, safety risks to officers, emergencies, or when authorized by law. The bill aims to increase transparency and prevent intimidation during such encounters, but does not apply to arrests or stops supported by probable cause.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to identify during routine stops, promoting transparency and accountability in law enforcement interactions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 918: Relating to civil service promotion criteria for municipal law-enforcement officers

SB 918 establishes new civil service promotion criteria for municipal law enforcement officers in West Virginia. It requires officers to complete 40 hours of leadership training before taking promotional exams, which account for 40% of their score. The bill also mandates a 40% score from a board evaluation (using 1-10 ratings on tactics/leadership questions) and 20% from seniority, with all criteria applied uniformly. This directly affects municipal police officers seeking promotions, as it standardizes the process through specific, measurable requirements set by the law. The bill applies to all municipal law enforcement agencies covered by civil service provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires 40h leadership training & structured board evaluations for promotions, enhancing accountability in law enforcement per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 882: Establishing Blue Envelope Program to promote communication between law enforcement and community members

SB 882 establishes a "Blue Envelope Program" for drivers in West Virginia diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The bill requires the West Virginia State Police to distribute durable blue envelopes containing a clear statement of the driver's diagnosis, communication tips for officers, space for personalized needs, emergency contact information, and instructions for use during traffic stops or accidents. These envelopes will be available by mail and at state police offices, holding license and registration documents. The program explicitly states no diagnosis verification is required, and individuals providing good-faith information are granted immunity from liability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes safer law enforcement interactions for autistic drivers via communication tools during traffic stops, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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